Swedish sustainable packaging materials company Billerud has been awarded a gold rating by EcoVadis for its commitment to sustainability.
This rating has placed Billerud within the top 5% of companies globally across all industries.
Earlier this month, Billerud launched MediKraft SealBase, a surface-treated medical paper for growing medical packaging needs. The product is made from virgin fibre and manufactured at the company’s Skärblacka mill in Sweden.
Billerud was distinguished with a platinum grade by EcoVadis for the last four consecutive years, ranking it in the top 1% ranking in the industry concerning the integration of sustainability principles into the business.
EcoVadis evaluates 21 sustainability criteria across four themes, environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.
Billerud’s performance in the EcoVadis rating highlights its long-term sustainability practices incorporation throughout its business operations.
In alignment with its sustainability goals, Billerud completed a Skr2.6bn ($240m) recovery boiler at the Frövi mill last year, which uses fossil-free biofuel. This investment not only reduces air emissions but also enhances the mill’s energy efficiency, ensuring the sustainable production of high-quality cartonboard.
Billerud’s efforts extend to its facilities in North America, where the Escanaba and Wisconsin Rapids sites initiated quality certification processes last year.
The company is also focusing on food safety, with North American sites pursuing FSSC 22000 certification.
Additionally, Billerud has begun evaluating its European mills for ISO 45001 certification for occupational health and safety to achieve this standard across all European mills by 2025.
In May, Billerud cancelled plans to convert the Escanaba mill to cartonboard production.
Billerud offers sustainable packaging solutions that allow its customers to reduce their carbon footprint.
The company’s efforts are mainly associated with cutting emissions from its operations, as well as indirect emissions from purchased energy, transportation and the purchase of goods and services.
As part of its plans to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions related to purchased energy, Billerud purchases CO₂e emission-free energy credits for its mills in North America.
EcoVadis operates a network encompassing more than 130,000 companies, assessing the integration of sustainability principles within their management systems.
